Costa Concordia salvage operation begins off the coast of the island of Giglio

For over a year, residents of the fishing island have watched from shore as cranes and barges have moved into place to try to remove the hulk from their port. A few dozen gathered with a large contingent from the world's media on a breakwater to witness the operation getting underway, while others glimpsed it from shore as they went about their daily business.Picture: ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP/Getty Images